Description

Episode Summary

Why is Bob Wallace – successful entrepreneur, advisor to senior executives, and author of multiple books on business – running as an Independent candidate for mayor of Baltimore? And why does this outsider, in a city where Democrats have dominated the political arena for decades, actually think he has a real chance to win? In this episode of The Sydcast, meet Bob Wallace and hear his story that took him from the Baltimore projects to the corner office, and now, maybe, City Hall.

Syd Finkelstein

Syd Finkelstein is the Steven Roth Professor of Management at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. He holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Professor Finkelstein has published 25 books and 90 articles, including the bestsellers Why Smart Executives Fail and Superbosses: How Exceptional Leaders Master the Flow of Talent, whichLinkedIn Chairman Reid Hoffman calls the “leadership guide for the Networked Age.” He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Management, a consultant and speaker to leading companies around the world, and a top 25 on the Global Thinkers 50 list of top management gurus. Professor Finkelstein’s research and consulting work often relies on in-depth and personal interviews with hundreds of people, an experience that led him to create and host his own podcast, The Sydcast, to uncover and share the stories of all sorts of fascinating people in business, sports, entertainment, politics, academia, and everyday life. 

Bob Wallace

Robert L. Wallace is an internationally-known entrepreneur, author, speaker, and consultant. With more than 30 years of business experience spanning engineering, energy, and IT, Bob blends decades of research with practical real-world advice to educate and inspire entrepreneurs and executives worldwide. His rags-to-riches story began in the Baltimore projects amidst poverty and racial segregation, before overcoming obstacles to establish three companies: BITHGROUP Technologies, Bithenergy, and through RobertWallace.com, EntreTeach. Now, he shares his innovative strategies for success with other corporate and community leaders through his growing library of books and other content, and through his energetic keynote presentations and training workshops. He is running for Mayor of Baltimore in 2020.

Insights from this episode:

• Details on why Bob felt the need to run for Mayor of Baltimore, including ousting career politicians to bring a new perspective to the position.
• Reasons why he changed from the Democratic party to the Republican party and why he is now running as an Independent candidate. 
• Benefits of spiritual fortitude in entrepreneurship and “mayor-preneurship”.
• Difficulties Bob faced being an African-American student in Ivy League schools, Penn and Dartmouth, in the 1980s.
• Details on Bob’s plan to rebuild Baltimore and how he plans to be transparent and accountable to the people of Maryland.

Quotes from the show:

• On Bob Wallace: “It’s pretty exciting to see someone with this type of mindset and integrity, deep integrity, and innovation and verified real accomplishment as an entrepreneur.” – Syd Finkelstein
• “If you always do what you’ve always done, then you’re going to get what you’ve always gotten.” – Bob Wallace
• “What’s critical to success in business is timing. You can have a great idea and a great plan but if the timing is not right, it’s not going to work.” – Bob Wallace
• On why Bob is running for Mayor: “Sometimes we are called in life to do things that don’t make sense on paper but you’re called to do it, so you must do it.” – Bob Wallace
• “I do believe that there is a spiritual component to entrepreneurial success.” – Bob Wallace
• On spiritual fortitude: “It’s not about religion per se, it’s that there is a belief that the future will be better than the present. A belief that I have the power to create something out of nothing ” – Bob Wallace
• “When you get to another level of some type in whatever venue it is, you gain this incredible confidence. ... Once you get to a certain level, it becomes your standard” – Syd Finkelstein
• On Bob’s mission as Mayor: “I’m not interested in coming in and nibbling around the edges of this environment, I’m looking to disrupt it and rebuild it and that’s going to take courage and that’s going to take strength, and I think I can bring that to the table.” – Bob Wallace
• “[My approach] is to understand first and then to move forward together. I am prepared to fight for the things that I think are important, but may not be popular.” – Bob Wallace
• “What’s most rewarding for me is the people I am meeting in Baltimore City neighborhoods that I am able to visit and it is so encouraging. Our city has such great DNA, strong bones, and all we need is a leader to pull it together.” – Bob Wallace

Stay Connected:

Syd Finkelstein

Website: http://thesydcast.com

LinkedIn: Sydney Finkelstein

Twitter: @sydfinkelstein

Facebook: The Sydcast

Instagram: The Sydcast

Bob Wallace

Website: robertwallace.com

Twitter: @RobertLWallace

Facebook: Bob Wallace for Baltimore Mayor 2020

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This episode was produced and managed by Podcast Laundry (www.podcastlaundry.com)